The only thing I can recall about the Benn was the curtains – or lack thereof. They stayed in the open position partly because the rod was snapped in half above the screen. Nice look for a movie theater, no?

I remember going to the Benn when I was a kid back in the 70’s. I went to saturday matinees when I could. There was always a line all the way to 63rd Street and the theater was always full. Too bad it’s closed. Jupiter’s was next to it, which was a Kmart store.

This theater was owned by my grandfather & great grandfather, Abraham Benn & Marcus Benn. My mom used to have movie parties there… I believe the Benner and the Alan were also part of that group. My Avitar is Alan & Esther Benn

According to the November 18, 1922, issue of The American Contractor, the Philip Halbach Company was the construction firm that built this theater. The item said that the theater was designed by H. C. Hodgons, Inc., 130 S. 15th st., but I can’t find any references to such a company on the Internet, nor any variant of the name Hodgons (Hodgson, Hodgdon, Hodgins.) It might have been a mistake. The item did give the name of the owner as Marcus A. Bonn instead of the correct Marcus Benn. Those old trade journals were full of typos.

A Dynamic Dollar & Up store now lives where the Jupiter store once did. The entrance to the theatre itself is shuttered. The marquee is still present but is rapidly deteriorating. The signage is gone now. And the upper façade is covered with weathered plywood. The past 39 years have not been kind to ol' Benn!

Small grand opening ad from September 1st, 1923 at http://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2023/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer%201923/Philadelphia%20PA%20Inquirer%201923%20-%206906.pdf

I would love to chat with needb. I grew up in Southwest Philadelphia and the Benn was my escape into a world of animation and wonder. If needb could help, I would love to find out if a record was kept of all the movies played at the Benn. There is a film as I saw as I child that absolutely captivated me and left me in complete awe. If I can find the title of that film, I would be overjoyed.